Tupu Tonu will consider applications from any Ngāpuhi hapū, whānau or organisation that identifies or affiliates to Ngāpuhi.

Tupu Tonu will consider applications for grants to support activities, objectives, initiatives or any kaupapa for the purpose of Ngāpuhi hapū, whānau or community:

i. capacity and capability building;

ii. social development; or

iii. cultural development.

Tupu Tonu are open to receiving applications for funding up to $20,000 (NZD). Grants above $20,000 (NZD) will be considered in exceptional circumstances.

For applications that require funding prior to March (applications due 13 January), Tupu Tonu will only make grant decisions for up to a total of 20% of the total amount available.

Whether GST on disbursements is payable or not will depend on the GST status of the recipient. Typically individuals that are not GST registered would not incur any GST consequences. In paying out disbursements to successful applicants, Tupu Tonu will make payments on a GST inclusive basis. Successful applicants will need to consider any GST implications that may apply to them and factor that into their application.

Applicants should demonstrate how the activity, objective, initiative or kaupapa:

• will support hapū, whānau or community:
  • capacity or capability building; and
  • social and cultural development;
• will provide benefits to hapū, whānau or the community.

Tupu Tonu anticipates that the types of activities groups may seek funding for include, but are not limited to:

• Capacity and capability building: hapū governance support; marae administration/co-ordination; training programmes.
• Social and cultural development: marae repairs and maintenance; taonga preservation; housing feasibility studies; rongoa Māori; Kura Reo; publishing hapū histories.

Tupu Tonu will give priority to applications that:

• can demonstrate they are hapū/whānau/community-led;
• can demonstrate they are well supported by the hapū/whānau/community;
• will meet a hapū/whānau/community need;
• have not already received other funding for the same purpose; and
• allows for a reasonable spread of funding across hapū and regions.

Tupu Tonu will not provide funding to applicants where proposed funding will only benefit one individual and other exclusions set out in the terms and conditions.

Decisions on applications will be made by the Tupu Tonu Board. Each application will be assessed against the above eligibility criteria and the strength of each application.

Successful applicants will be required to report back to Tupu Tonu on their use of the funds. Tupu Tonu may request a financial summary of the funds spent, and other supporting information showing how applicants have used the funding for the intended purpose. In some cases, Tupu Tonu may request photos or videos of the funded activity/project to use on its website and annual report in order to share the outcome of Tukua – Tupu Tonu Disbursements. By submitting an application, you give Tupu Tonu permission to share and publish this information.

What are Tupu Tonu disbursements?

Tupu Tonu disbursements are intended to provide a portion of the net cash investment returns to Ngāpuhi hapū, whānau and uri on an annual basis.

Why are disbursements being paid out by Tupu Tonu?

When Tupu Tonu was established, Cabinet agreed that a portion of annual net cash investment returns (up to 20 percent) would be made available to Ngāpuhi uri to support hapū and whānau. The focus of the first round of Tupu Tonu disbursements is on supporting capacity and capability building as well as social and cultural development.

How much is available for disbursements?

For the initial round of disbursements in the 2022/23 financial year, Tupu Tonu has up to $425,000 available in total, approximately 20 percent of annual net cash investment returns from the 2021/22 financial year. Tupu Tonu is seeking applications for grants up to $20,000. However, applications above this amount may be considered in exceptional circumstances.

What are disbursements available for?

Tupu Tonu will consider applications for grants to support activities, objectives, initiatives or any kaupapa for the purpose of Ngāpuhi hapū, whānau or uri that deliver the following outcomes:

1. capacity and capability building;
2. social development; and/or
3. cultural development.

Types of activities groups may seek funding for include, but are not limited to:

• Capacity and capability building: hapū governance support; marae administration/co-ordination; training programmes.
• Social and cultural development: marae repairs and maintenance; taonga preservation; housing feasibility studies; rongoa Māori; Kura Reo; researching and publishing hapū histories.

Who is eligible to apply for disbursements?

Tupu Tonu will consider applications from any Ngāpuhi hapū, whānau or organisation that identifies or affiliates to Ngāpuhi.

What applications will receive priority?

Tupu Tonu will give priority to applications that:

• can demonstrate they are Ngāpuhi hapū/whānau/community-led;
• can demonstrate they are well supported by Ngāpuhi hapū/whānau/community;
• will meet a Ngāpuhi hapū/whānau/community need; and
• have not already received other funding for the same purpose.

Is there anything Tupu Tonu disbursements won’t be available for?

Tupu Tonu will not provide disbursements to applicants where the disbursements will only benefit one individual and other exclusions set out in the terms and conditions on the Tupu Tonu website. 

How can disbursements be accessed?

To access disbursements, an application must be provided to Tupu Tonu describing the activity or initiative the disbursements used for and the outcomes that are hoped to be achieved. Applicants can apply for disbursements through the Tupu Tonu website (https://tuputonu.co.nz/).

What will applicants need to do to demonstrate they are Ngāpuhi?

Applicants will need to provide information about their hapū or whānau, or an explanation about how the organisation they are seeking disbursements on behalf of affiliates to Ngāpuhi.

How will decisions be made?

Decisions on applications for disbursements will be made by the Tupu Tonu Board.  Each application will be assessed against the eligibility criteria outlined on the Tupu Tonu website.

How long will the disbursements round be open for?

The first round will close to applications on 10 March 2023. Applications will then be assessed, and decisions made by the end of March. Discretion will also be provided for funding decisions to be available prior to the close of applications in exceptional circumstances for activities that will be occurring prior to March 2023.

Disbursements rounds will run concurrently with Tupu Tonu standard operations and while negotiations for redress between the Crown and ngā hapū o Ngāpuhi. A second round will be announced later in 2023.

Are disbursements inclusive or exclusive of GST?

Whether GST on disbursements is payable or not will depend on the GST status of the recipient. Typically individuals that are not GST registered would not incur any GST consequences. In paying out disbursements to successful applicants, Tupu Tonu will make payments on a GST inclusive basis. Successful applicants will need to consider any GST implications that may apply to them and factor that into their application.

Is there any limit to the number of applications my hapū, whānau or organisation might make?

There is not limit to the number of applications your hapū, whānau or organisation can make. However, where the total amount requested by successful applicants is above the total amount available for this round, Tupu Tonu will look to prioritise those applications that allow for a reasonable spread of funding across hapū and regions. In this situation, it is likely that Tupu Tonu would only look to fund one application.

Will Tupu Tonu disbursements have any impact on our hapū wai claims? Will this be on account of our settlement?

Tupu Tonu disbursements are not associated with, nor will it impact on, any hapū WAI claims. Tupu Tonu disbursements are not “on account” of any future Treaty redress agreement between ngā hapū o Ngāpuhi and the Crown. While Tupu Tonu was set up for the purpose of acquiring assets for the Crown to offer in redress discussions with ngā hapū o Ngāpuhi, and growing the overall value of the fund, there is no direct relationship between Tupu Tonu disbursements (Tukua) and those redress discussions. Rather, the purpose of the disbursements is to support Ngāpuhi social and cultural development, and capacity and capability building now.